READINGS IN IRISH HISTORY

New Zealand Tablet, 2 August 1917, Page 13

READINGS IN IRISH HISTORY

By "Shanachie."

RESISTANCE OF THE IRISH TO THE ANGLONORMANS. - Henry 11. left Ireland' April 17, 1172. Immediately after his departure the IrisK chiefs took up arms to protect themselves from being plundered without mercy by the newcomers. O'Rorke, to-whom three years before O'Connor, the High-King, had given Meath after the expulsion of MacLoughlin, was the first to oppose them. A conference took place between him and De Lacy at the Hill of Ward, both having agreed to come unattended and unarmed. During the progress of the negotiations a quarrel arose, blows were exchanged, one of De Lacy's attendants—his interpreter— slain, and as O'Rorke was mounting his horse to escape from the danger that threatened him, an English horseman rode up and transfixed him with a spear. The Irish chroniclers maintain that the treachery was all on the English side ; Giraldus, however, has no doubt whatever that it was on the Irish side, and speaks with bitterness of the treachery and treason of O'Rorke, "the one-eyed King of Meath." The body of O'Rorke was taken to Dublin, the head cut off and placed over the gate of the fortress, and the body gibbeted with the feet upwards, at the northern side of Dublin. The example of De Lacy in Meath was followed by Strongbow in Leinster. He had conquered only part of the province, and the grant of the whole province by the English king had not brought with it the peaceful submission of the native chiefs or the aquiescence of the people, and there were, many of these Leinster chiefs who clung with tenacity and determination to their ancient freedom. __ Against one of these, O'Dempsey of Offaly, Strongbow marched with a thousand men. Unable to resist such an army, O'Dempsey fell back. Strongbow, after wasting and plundering a portion of Offaly, was returning to his headquarters at Kildare, when, at a narrow pass, his rear-guard, under his son-in-law, De Quincy, was attacked by O'Dempsey and driven into Kildare in confusion, with the loss of its leader and many others. Defeated, but not materially weakened, Strongbow was meditating a fresh expedition, when he was summoned by Henry 11. to England. His aid was required in the French wars, and so well pleased was Henry with the services of the Earl, that he appointed him to guard the strong fortress of Gisors in Normandy (1173), and after a short time sent him back in the same year to Ireland, appointing him Viceroy in room of De Lacy. The prospect before the new Viceroy was not encouraging. The native chiefs, no longer awed by the presence of Henry and the overwhelming forces at his command, showed a readiness to assert themselves, and the English chiefs began to quarrel. Strongbow's treasury was soon exhausted, the soldiers clamored for their pay, and not having it to get, they were ready and eager for plunder. The successor of De Quiney in the military command of Leinster was De Mountmaurice; and as he would not countenance plunder, the soldiers refused to serve under his command, and demanded that Raymond le Gros be appointed their leader. Necessity forced Strongbow to accede to their request, and Raymond was placed in supreme military command. His measures were energetic and decisive. He ravaged Offlay and plundered Lismore, defeated the Danes of Cork at sea and MacCarthy of Desmond on land, and safely arrived at Water ford with all his plunder. Then he demanded to be made Constable of Leinster, and he also demanded, and not for the first time, Basilea, Strongbow's sister, in marriage. Both requests were refused. He left Waterford in disgust and retired to his castle in Wales, while Mountmaurice resumed military command of the province. ; O'Brien, King of Thomond, renounced his allegiance to the English. Mountmaurice advised Strongbow to lead an army against him. With a large force

they were soon, on * the march, but O’Brien, warned of their approach *: came upon them in the early morning’, near Thurles, and inflicted on them a crushing defeat, driving them back to Waterford, with the loss of ,700 of their troops. - .Shut up -in that - city, surrounded by enemies, almost in a state of siege, and with ’ disaffection within the .walls itself, Strongbow’s position was one of extreme danger. The daring and skilful Raymond was soon remembered, and Strongbow sent urgent messages to him to return with- all the forces he could muster, and that all he had formerly asked and been refused would now be readily -granted. Raymond soon landed at Waterford with nearly 500 troops, liberated Strongbow from the plight in which he was, and both proceeding to Wexford, Raymond was married to Basilea with great pomp, and appointed Constable of Leinster. While Raymond le Gros was engaging in hostilities with O Brien of Thomond at Limerick, Le received a message from his wife Basilea, then in Dublin, that “her great tooth, which had long pained her so much, had at last fallen out.” He understood her meaning, and set off in haste for Dublin. Strongbow Lad died of an ulcer in the foot, which had been brought about, the Irish writers alleged, ‘through the miracles of Brigid and Columbkille, whose churches he had destroyed.” He was buried in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, June, 1176, with great pomp, the Archbishop of Dublin being present. Giraldus Cambrensis describes the Earl as a man with a ruddy complexion, freckled skin, grey eyes, feminine features, a weak voice, a short neck, tall of stature, of great generosity and courtesy, ever ready to take advice, and rarely relying on his own judgment. He was neither driven to despair in adversity nor puffed up by success. With the consent of the Royal Commissioners, Raymond assumed the government until the King’s will should be known, and when it was, William FitzAdelm was appointed Viceroy and Raymond was deprived of all authority, civil and military." He retired to his estates in Wexford and died there (1182). Of all the English leaders he is the hero of Giraldus Cambrensis, who never fails to praise him. It must be remembered, however, that they were of the same family, and no man was more partial to his own family than Giraldus.

It is, indeed, remarkable that nearly all those who were leaders of the first Anglo-Norman invaders were related, being descendants of Nesta, daughter of Rhys Ap Tudor, Prince of South Wales. She was at first the mistress of Henry 1., by whom she had a son, Henry, from whom are descended the FitzHenrys, Discarded by Henry, she married, firstly, Gerald do Windsor of Pembroke, from whom are descended the FitzGeralds and the De Barris, among the former being Maurice and Raymond le Grps ; among the latter were Robert and Philip De Barri and their brother Sylvester (Giraldus Cambrensis), also the De Cogans. Nesta married, secondly, Stephen’, from whom are the FitzShephens. This relationship was extended by marriage in Ireland. Thus, what are to-day very common Irish surnames, are of Anglo-Norman origin, such as Barry, Burke, Power, Roache, De Largy, Delahunty, Prendergast, etc.